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The Raven and the Swan (Aesop's Fable)

7/7/2015

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A Raven saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.

Introductory Brainstorming
The nature or characteristics of something are difficult to change. Can you think of examples of nature? Hint: gravity
What habits can be easily changed? 

Introductory Discussion Questions
What are things that we can change about ourselves?
What are some things that we cannot change about ourselves?
Have you seen a raven or swan? If so, where? 

Synonym Matching A
desired                                                                         feathers
secure                                                                          wonderful
beautiful                                                                      pretty
plumage                                                                      wanted
splendid                                                                      came from
arose                                                                           get

Synonym Matching B
washing                                                                     go out
left                                                                              died
neighborhood                                                          home area 
living                                                                           home
residence                                                                  cleansing
perished                                                                   characteristic
habit                                                                         change
alter                                                                          job
nature                                                                      routine


Listening Gap Fill
A Raven ______ a Swan and desired to secure for himself _______ same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid ________ color arose from his washing in the water _____ which he swam, the Raven left the _________ in the neighborhood where he picked up his _________, and took up residence in the lakes and ________. But cleansing his feathers as often as he ________, he could not change their color, while through _______ of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot ________ Nature.


Word Bank Blank Fill
A Raven saw a Swan and desired to 1. (    ) for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his 2. (    ) in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his 3. (    ), and took up residence in the lakes and 4. (    ). But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not 5. (    ) their color, while through want of food he 6. (    ).
Change of habit 7. (    ) alter Nature.


a. washing
b. cannot
c. secure
d. living
e. change
f. perished
g. pools


Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What are things you desire that seem impossible?
If you could have one impossible wish, what would it be?
When could desiring something be bad?
What was the first mistake the Raven made in its thinking? 
What advice would you give to someone wanting something impossible?

B
What habits do you wish you could change?

What habit change could be dangerous for you? 
When could desiring something be good?
What was the final mistake the Raven made? 
What advice would you give to someone who wants to change a habit? 

Writing
Rewrite this fable using different animals or humans.

Exercise Answers

Synonym Matching A: desired-->wanted, secure-->get, beautiful-->pretty,           plumage-->feathers, splendid-->wonderful, arose-->got up.
Synonym Matching B: washing-->cleansing, left-->go out, neighborhood-->home area, living-->job, residence-->home, perished-->died, habit-->routine, alter-->change, 
nature-->characteristic.   

Listening Gap Fill: and, the, white, in, altars, living, pools, would, want, alter. 
Word Bank Blank Fill: 1. b. secure, 2. a. washing, 3. d. living, 4. g. pools, 5. e. change, 6. f. perished, 7. b. cannot. 

Key Vocabulary
raven  乌鸦
swan 天鵝
desire 欲望
to secure  保险
him'self' 自己
same  一样
beautiful 美丽
plumage, feathers 羽毛
supposing   假如
splendid  灿烂
white color 白色
washing, cleansing  洗涤
swam 游泳
left  离开
altars    祭坛
neighborhood 邻里
living  营生
residence  住所
lakes 湖
pools   池
could not change, could not alter 不能改变
want of food  缺乏食物
perished 亡
habit  习惯
nature 性质

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    Author

    My name is Paul. I am from Michigan, USA. I am a perpetual language learner and teacher, trading my time between two continents. I obtained my MA in TESOL from Cornerstone University. 

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